By Lisa Carolin
A dog park ordinance that would amend current zoning ordinances for Lima Township was approved by the Township Planning Commission by a 7-0 vote on Jan. 25 and now moves on to the Township Board.
A public hearing was held at the Lima Township Planning Commission meeting Jan. 25, but there were no comments regarding the dog park ordinance amendment for Zoning Districts AG-1, AG 2, and RR (Agricultural and Recreational Residential).
Paul Montagno, planner from Carlisle/Wortman Assoc., Inc. told the commission that typically dog parks are run by municipal rules rather than privately.
He said that the site must be able to accommodate a 100-foot setback in addition to a dog run. He also mentioned storm water management with rules about picking up and cleaning up the site and proper filtering.
Planning Commission Chairman Marlene Consiglio said, “We want a 10-acre site, where dogs must be legally licensed, and there are no more than three dogs per adult. We don’t want it turning into a kennel.”
The commission also discussed a special use permit for the Vargo Golf Company (dba Reddman Farms) at 555 Dancer Road.
“We met with the owner of Reddman Farms and encouraged them to reach out to neighbors,” said Consiglio. “The primary use is going to be golf. We don’t want to see more weddings than golfing. Events must be inside with a limit of 125 people and no music outdoors.”
Commissioner Bill Coltre said, “I’d like to get a sense of what level of expansion they want to achieve. We need to consider it as similar to Nordman Lake.”
Several people expressed concerned about how fast motorists go on that stretch of Dancer Road.
Montagno said, “We’ve suggested the owner and operators take a proactive stance and put out brochures and send out emails to remind people that it’s a neighborhood and to be respectful of the speed limit.”
A public hearing about the special use permit for Reddman Farms is tentatively scheduled for March 28.
